Saturday, January 17, 2015
                                                                                                                      
SAN ANGELO, TEXAS — After being held to a season-low 16 points in the first half of Saturday's Lone Star Conference game at the Junell Center at facing a 22-point deficit in the second half, the Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team (6-8; LSC 2-2) outscored Angelo State (5-10; LSC 0-5) 49-28 in the second half, on the way to a 65-56 win. Tori Tucker (Portales, N.M./Floyd HS/Howard College) paced the Zia effort with 19 points, with 14 coming in the second half.
 
The last time Eastern overcame a 20-point deficit came against Cameron University on December 2, 2006, when they overcame a 48-28 deficit to post a 77-74 win at Greyhound Arena. Starting with the 2006-07 season, the Zias have overcome 10 double digit deficits, with the previous high on the road being a 16-point margin at Southwestern Oklahoma State during the 2009-10 season.
 
The Rambelles scored the first basket of the contest on a jumper from Diamalises Rivera just 22 seconds in and surged to a 17-3 lead over the opening 9:17 of play. Angelo State held a 28-16 lead at halftime. ASU held a 46.2-22.7 percent edge in shooting percentage and a 26-13 lead in rebounds. Sarah Stinnett (Jr., G, Fort Sumner, N.M./Howard College) paced Eastern with seven points.
 
Rivera scored the first five points of the second half as the Rambelles came out of the locker room with a 12-2 run, to take their largest lead of the game, 40-18, on a Michelle Roswell fast break with 16:35 to play. Stinnett followed with a fast break layup to ignite a 20-2 run, which saw Eastern hold the Rambelles scoreless for nearly five minutes. The run pulled ENMU within 42-38 on a pair of Tucker free throws with 9:55 to play. A pair of free throws from KeAnna Kelly pushed the ASU lead back to six, but the Zias answered with a 13-2 run over the ensuing 3:44 and took the lead for good on a jumper from Stinnett, before a trey from Jordyn Cooper (Jr., G, Texico, N.M./Texico HS) gave Eastern a 51-46 advantage with 4:47 left. Angelo State managed to close within a single point, 51-50 on a jumper from Amanda Weaver with 3:44 left, but the Zias responded with an 8-1 run and held on for the win. The Zias shot a blistering 64 percent from the floor and 63.6 percent (7-11) from three-point range, in addition to holding an 18-14 edge on the boards.
 
For the game, the Zia bench held a 24-11 scoring advantage over the Angelo State reserves, which included a 20-5 lead in the second half. The Rambelles held a 9-2 lead in second-chance points, which included a 5-2 advantage in the first half. The Rambelles led for 32:26 of play. Tucker grabbed a season-high nine rebounds, hit five-of-six free throws and had a three steals. Stinnett contributed 16 points, five assists and three steals, while Jordyn Cooper chipped in 12 points. Rivera paced ASU with 15 points and five rebounds.
 
The Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team will return to action on Wednesday, when they visit Texas A&M-Commerce. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. MT. The Zias also will visit Texas Woman's on Thursday evening.
 
NOTES
The win snapped a two game skid in road games against the Rambelles. Entering the contest ASU had won 17 of the last 18 home meetings
 
Eastern has won two of the last three meetings with Angelo State for the first time since a stretch between the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons
 
Eastern's 16 points in the first half matched the season-low for points in a half, also set in the first half against Midwestern State
 
The win snapped a seven-game skid in LSC road games for ENMU. The last win came at Texas A&M-Kingsville, last season.
 
Double Digit deficits overcome since the 2006-07 season
12/2/2006 vs Cameron trailed by 20
1/11/2007 at East Central trailed by 11
2/8/2007 vs Texas Woman's trailed by 14
2/24/2007 vs Tarleton State trailed by 10
12/14/2009 at Southwestern Oklahoma trailed by 16
2/13/2010 at Midwestern State trailed by 10
1/12/2011 vs Texas A&M-Kingsville trailed by 13
2/2/2013 vs Abilene Christian trailed by 15
1/22/2014 vs Texas A&M-Commerce trailed by 10
1/17/2015 at Angelo State trailed by 22